Oh, to title a chapter or just go ahead and call it Chapter 72. One of the perennial questions facing any writer.
Do you notice chapter titles when you’re reading? Do you like them? Dislike them? Not even realize they’re there?
Where do you stand?
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E. A. Provost says
I don't miss them if they're not there, but I like them when they're clever. I love the way Stephanie Meyer changed her chapter titles in Breaking Dawn when the POV changed to Jacob. I don't have them in my WIP but if I think of something suitable and witty at some point in the process, I won't hold back.
Daniel L Carter says
I love chapter titles mainly because of Robert Aspirin. His Myth series always had a humorous quote from a famous or supposedly famous person to go along with his title. When all you have is a chapter number I have no idea what to expect or where things are heading in the story. That may sound silly but I like to have little clues as to what is in store for me.
Blessings,
Daniel L Carter
Author of The Unwanted Trilogy
k10wnsta says
The most common argument against chapter titles seems to have to do with leaving the flow of the story uninterrupted. But if that's the concern, why have chapters at all?
Chapter titles, when properly done, add fantastic accent to a story. Harry Potter was mentioned by other commenters, and it certainly contains some of the most well-conceived chapter titles in modern literature. But if you were to step back a hundred years and peruse The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, how could you not want to read a chapter dubbed 'The House of Death Floats By' or 'All Full of Tears and Flapdoodle'?
R Elland says
I think it's up to the author in that it represents a style of writing. I enjoy them, though I can live with out as well.
In children's books for example, they can serve to give the younger reader a sense of what's coming I've noticed as well.
Furthermore it can be a humorous thing that gives one the sense of the absurd, or say in horror or dramatic writings it gives one a sense of the emotional content you may feel in the coming reading, further adding to the emotional content of the book reading.
Overall, it depends on the book and the author and I honestly think they still have a credible place in today's books.
Dominique says
Some books I've loved them (Stardust by Neil Gaiman) and others I could take 'em or leave 'em (Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery), but generally speaking, I'm a fan. Strangely enough, though, for a reader who loves chapter titles, I almost never use them in my own writing.
Anonymous says
When they're great, they're great. Whether they're quotes, original witticisms or just the name to clarify the speaker/POV. I like them best when they express something deep, funny and seemingly unrelated to the writing…until you finish the chapter. And then, "Wow, that was brilliant."
I tended to use them, but felt they were out of favor. Now I'm trying to remember what I deleted because WHO THE HECK CARES WHAT'S OUT OF FAVOR?! This is MY book, Jack. 'Kay, I feel better now.
Possibly I was being a wuss–oh, the pressure of being brilliant for 70+ chapter titles. (No pressure 'til I overthought the whole thing.)
Chris Moore's often astound me.
Them's my two cents, NickB
word ver: opaches: Members of the Apache Nation as lead by Oprah.
Jil says
I dislike chapter titles as they are usually telling me what's ahead and I want to find out for myself. Especially in very old books which can list all the things about to happen and that really annoys me.
Chapter titles are an interruption An aggravation.
Hey, I guess I don't like them! (:
Marie R says
I enjoy them when they're well done: adding a touch of mystery so that I'm curious about the chapter to come. The end of a chapter is a good place to put a book down, so if a chapter title piques my interest to read on, it has done its job. One of my favorite books with chapter titles is Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell.
But the writing within the chapter can do that just as well. In that case, I don't particularly care if the chapters are simply numbered.
One thing I do dislike: poetry verses at the top of chapters. It breaks the flow of the story for me, as they are in a different voice and I need to shift mental gears to read them. I like poetry, so if I find the verses well-written, I'll skip them while reading the book and then go back and read the all verses straight through. Same goes for jokes/witty quotes at the top of chapters.
I've tried reading the verses/jokes first and the book last, but I have a bad habit of glancing below the title and ruining future plot events for myself. I call this my "wandering spoiler eye." 🙂
Old Salt says
I use single/double word titles, as a way of indicating for myself that this is where the story takes another turn, and what kind of turn. Picture: Plunder, Discovery, Pursuit, About Face, Denouement. I haven't even told you what my WIP is about, and you already have a feel for the story. Granted, these are the standard parts of any good adventure, but how often do our readers actually think about that?
Matthew Rush says
For me it depends. My own WIP jumps back and forth through time and space so much I find chapter headings to be invaluable, but titles I can take or leave, depending on how witty or hilarious they are (for reference I tend to enjoy reading them, but can't write them that way to save my life).
M.A.Leslie says
I am on the fence about them. In the case of YA and Middle Grade Fiction I think that they aren't needed but a good edition to the story. I remember reading books as a kid and before I would read the chapter I would the title and try to find the meaning in the chapter. It was just something that I found to be engaging.
Now though, when it comes to what I read now, I think that they just get in the way. I don't know if it is because I have become impatient. So here I am sitting on the fence and my vote is for Yes in some cases and No in others. By the way with my impatience has come indecisiveness.
Becca says
I only like them if they can be done well. I need them numbered, to keep me from going insane, but any farther, and it really has to be done right to make it good. And of course in saying that, I'm being picky, as "right" is subjective.
Like, to me, a chapter title lies around the same lines as song titles and episode titles. I hate it when they're like a quote from said chapter/song/episode. Sometimes I like them a bit more obscure, like outside references.
Long story short, I prefer them just numbered
Sandra says
When used properly, chapter titles are an absolute treat and make me feel closer to the story/author as a reader.
But on a few occasions, after having paid attention to the chapter title and wondering as to its significance, I've been let down because either 1) I am unable to figure out exactly WHAT the author intended by the title (this tends to make me feel like I'm missing the entire point of the writing, which is not a good thing as it may make me think twice about picking something up by the same writer), or 2) I'm completely in awe of the mysteriousness of the title and strive to figure it out.
I realize this is a bit of a catch 22, but really, if I have a choice between an author who is a pompous twit with a fabulous story-telling gift or a newcomer with an equal talent who can relate to the reader? i will go with the new comer every time.
Stephanie McGee says
I try to title my chapters, but it doesn't always work. As far as chapter titles in published books, I don't really pay attention. (Except in the Harry Potter books, because those were always interesting.)
Carol Piasente says
Interesting topic ,,, I think of chapter titles as very old fashioned, and love them in those older books, but they seem extraneous and too "cute" in modern works.
Terin Tashi Miller says
Very interesting question. I like them when they seem to fit–my 8-year-old son loves them, as they signal either the beginning or the end of a chapter he's supposed to read.
They're kind of like headlines, but as noted, somewhat old fashioned.
The Autobiography of U.S. Grant, commissioned and published by Samuel Clemens, makes excellent use of them. They sometimes help to focus the reader, as a topical sentence.
But mostly, in my own stuff, I use merely Roman numerals–another somewhat old fashioned convention, but serving much the same purpose, as it shows the reader progression is being made…
Sorry. Somewhat distracted. Watching the Bears walk over my beloved Packers…
Ellen Faith says
It depends.
As a reader I have no fuss. If the story is a page turner I don't even take note of the chapter titles.
As a writer I honestly find no need to them. One day maybe I will use them. But for now they're just there for the sake of being there.
Daniel Smith says
I like them. When done right, they give a little flavor of the chapter ahead and a little pull to get me to keep reading.
Think about all the great title chapters just in the Harry Potter books:
Book 1, Chapter 1: The Boy Who Lived
Book 1, Chapter 3: The Letters from No One
Book 1, Chapter 17: The Man with Two Faces
Again, when done right they can be very effective.
Micky says
I usually don't pay attention to chapter titles, but when they're funny I can't resist. For example, the Percy Jackson series has hilarious chapter titles.
Chapter 1: "I Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-Algebra Teacher"
I mean, come ON! Who can resist a title like that? Although I admit that I might be biased, I never did like Pre-Algerbra.
Terri Weeding says
I love chapter titles if they are indicative of the writing style. For instance, "The House of Drainage, Embalming, and Beautification" makes fun of a somber place. Reflects the subtitle of the novel, a dark comedy.
Mira says
I skip right past them, not on purpose, but just to get to the next part. I won't even notice them. But if I love the book, I'll read it again – sometimes right after I finish. Then I'll enjoy and savor the chapter headings.
Catherine Blakeney says
I don't even like writing chapters, to be honest. My stories come out in a series of scenes, and I end up arbitrarily chopping those into 10-15 chunks of chapters around 5-10K words long as part of the editing process. The book, for me, is a linear and cohesive whole, and if it weren't for what everyone else thought, I'd leave chapters out entirely and just have my spaces between scenes.
Nicole MacDonald says
Nah I don't like them or need them. Numbered is fine 🙂 Least then I can say 'just till next chapter then I zzz'
https://damselinadirtydress.blogspot.com
Jane says
If the book is flowing nicely and it can't be put down, then I don't find there is really any need to be looking at the name of the chapter I'm itching to read next.
Alex Beecroft says
I wouldn't say they were always necessary. I like them when they're funny or witty and fit in with the style of the rest of the book, I don't like them when they just look pretentious. You're probably safer without them, unless you know you can really make them work.
Bibliophile says
I like chapter titles in theory, but in practice I tend not to notice them.
Hillsy says
I'm pretty ambivalent on chapter titles. But (for all you Potter fans out there) the best use of them I've seen is in a book called "Go Quest, Young Man" by K.B.Bogan.
Each Chapter title has 2 Titles and the second is a piss-take of the first while also sending up a Fantasy story cliche. The book is really brilliant, can't believe she never wrote anything else! Part Pratchett, part Potter, all good!
Kathleen@so much to say, so little time says
I think chapter titles are great if they mean something, but they're not necessary. Sometimes I go back mid-chapter and try to figure out what the (bleep bleep) is the connection between the title and what's going on in the story. When I figure it out, I feel smart. When I don't, I just get irritated and wish they'd leave off titling.
Lee says
There are such things as Chapter Titles? o___0
Hart Johnson says
I particularly love clever ones in YA–Rick Riordan has the best chapter titles EVER, though I also remember spending time before the release of Half Blood Prince–CHAPTER titles were released and it was great fun to debate what they meant. In adult books they don't always seem necessary, but sometimes are nice.
Tom Bradley Jr. says
Gotta love chapter titles. There's just something a tad more more creative about them than 1, 2, 3, etc., etc…
Perri says
Chapter titles can set a certain tone. They work well if the novel is light or comic. I'm not sure they do much in more serious fiction.
I do love them though…. As my current project is both light and comic, I've enjoyed trying to set just the right tone with fun (hopefully funny) chapter titles
midnightblooms says
I skip chapter titles. In fact I usually don't even notice when I start a new chapter, especially if the book has really drawn me in.
Chapter titles are something I notice after I read the book when I go back through and look at the table of contents and think "oh, I see what the author did there. Clever."
JenniferWriter says
I like chapter titles when used in the following two ways:
1. To add humor, ie Diana Wynne Jones (HOWL'S) or Patricia Wrede (DEALING WITH DRAGONS).
2. To clarify POV, ie George R.R. Martin
lora96 says
I love chapter titles when they are intriguing and well chosen, like in Oscar and Lucinda.
TraciB says
The last time I even noticed anything at the top of a chapter was in the 80s when I was reading Robert Asprin's "Mythadventures" series. He used quotes to good effect; they sounded important and profound, but when read in the context of the story's action at a given point, they took on a humorous, often ironic meaning.
When done that way, chapter titles are good; they add to the story. Long chapter titles or those that reveal too much are simply a distraction.
Naomi Johnson says
A good chapter title will suck the reader right on into the chapter to find out what that title means. My favorite chapter titles were written by Earl Emerson. He doesn't use them in every book, but when he does: SO effective.
Porter Anderson says
This blog, Nathan, goes into your chapter titled "It's So Hard To Get a Rise Out of People."
🙂
-p.
Dara says
I'll read them, but for the most part I don't pay attention to them. I certainly don't use them in my own writing; coming up with a book title is hard enough! To come up with nifty chapter titles every few pages…no thanks. 😛
Two Flights Down says
Usually, chapter titles annoy me, but they don't keep me from continuing to read. Once in a while, I come across a book where the chapter titles just seem to fit. So, consider chapter titles carefully.
H. N. Stone says
I think chapter titles can be practical during the writing process, if only to allow easy reference to events that happen during that chapter. It's easier to find that chapter where cake leads to hijinks when you have a chapter titled 'Cakescapades', for example.
In terms of published books, I could go either way. If the author's particularly clever with their chapter titles, then more power to them. Certainly, they do no worse harm than possibly running the risk of spoiling a major event in a chapter. Usually, I find chapter titles most helpful in rereads and that sort of thing, when I'm looking for specific passages.
Debbie says
Rick Riordon is a prime example of a writer who understands how to create a chapter title. His are hilarious and dead-on for his market readership.
Corey says
Joan Didion uses them to good effect in the beginning of "Play It As It Lays." The novel starts with several short chapters each in the voice of one of the primary characters. Those chapters are titled with the person's name to clue the reader that she/he is the narrator.
I'm wondering about how chapter titles even began…Perhaps they trace back to when novels were serialized, eg. Dickins. Presumably each new serialized publication would have a unique title and writers adopted that practice for published full length works.
Cathi says
I'm in favor of chapter titles, especially when they tempt the reader to read on to find out what they mean.
Gigi says
I look at the list of chapters before I read the book. It's one way to pique my interest.
Kathy says
I love them. But I have such a hard time thinking of ANY title (even title for the novel) there's no chance I'll ever have titles for each chapter.
Bill Swan says
Chapter titles?
A simple Chapter 27 is best.
But if editors want chapter titles (and they write the cheques) they these must be crafted as carefully as a newspaper headline.
And editors may want the chapter titles to adhere to policy on title lines. This is common in children's books, I think.
Ganz-1 says
I don't mind them. I like them if they're there since some serves as POV pointers it helps me to get into the right mindset before I start the chapter. If there're none, they aren't miss.
Anonymous says
dickens. 'nuff said.
Kristi says
Chapter titles would be nice if publishers would bother putting them in the page headers in the book. They make more sense when you can see what the darned title is as you read. But no, you get the book title and a page number. And I don't flip back and forth (unless I don't like the book anyway and am going to put it down). So they're lost on me.